The City of Bismarck will begin a large-scale reconstruction project on Ash Coulee Drive later this month. The project in northwest Bismarck is expected to be fully open for traffic in October of this year. 

The project will be broken into two phases and will include a reconstruction of the roadway and the addition of turn lanes, pedestrian facilities and lighting. Phase 1 will see work performed on Ash Coulee Drive from Tyler Parkway to E Valley Drive. Phase 2 of the project will see the section of road from E Valley Drive to N Washington Street closed once school has been released for summer break. Work will be performed in both phases during the majority of the summer. Phase 2 is expected to be completed in August, with that portion of the roadway reopened prior to the start of the school year. 

“This project will unfortunately impact the citizens that typically use Ash Coulee Drive,” said City of Bismarck Engineer Gabe Schell. “The contractor can be more efficient when we give them entire segments to use. That efficiency results in faster completion of projects, lower costs to the taxpayers, and less overall delay to the public.” 

The shared-use path on the north side of Ash Coulee Drive will be closed to pedestrian and bicycle traffic during the project. The pedestrian crossing at Mustang Drive will remain open while school is in session during the spring and fall, but will be closed during Phase 2.  

Digital message boards will be used to notify the public in the areas beginning one week in advance of the street closures. 

More information about the project is available on the City of Bismarck website. Additional information will be shared on the City of Bismarck social media channels throughout the life of the reconstruction project. Follow the City of Bismarck on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram by searching BismarckNDGov.